Best meal: Burnt Miso Ramen at lovely local restaurant near the National Art Center, Tokyo. And seriously the best sushi ever.

Best deal: Tour to the Great Buddha of Kamakura ??? Kamakura, Japan. Tour guides arranged with Hato Bus company and our travel agent are terrific. Ours included a delicious vegetarian lunch beforehand.

Best time to go: April for Cherry Blossoms, and September for Autumn color but May was wonderful and far less crowded.

Best travel tip: Pack Light, bring an extra compressible bag to hold those gifts you'll be bringing back. If you see something unique - special chopsticks, silk table linen, or charms from a temple - buy and stow as you go. And stop by Aritsugu, a knife specialist in Nishiki Market, Kyoto, who makes some of the best knives in the country. They will personalize with hand engraving the blade for you on the spot.